Norihide Ushirozako, a Japanese man who plead guilty on May 23 to smuggling live turtles and tortoises into the United States via LAX, will be released from federal custody after being sentenced to time served, as reported by CBS LA. more ›

Atsushi Yamagami, a 39-year old Japanese national, plead guilty on Monday to one felony count of smuggling turtles and tortoises into the United States. Concealed in snack food boxes in a suitcase, a live shipment containing 55 of the reptiles was discovered at LAX in January 2011. more ›

"Operation Flying Turtle" got underway over a year ago, and culminated in the arrest of two men at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, who were caught smuggling 50 live turtles and tortoises into the country. However, "officials still have no idea what the men planned to do with all those tortoises," reports CBS2. more ›

Tonight LA-by-way-of-Michigan retro soul singer-songwriter Mayer Hawthorne will be gracing the Getty Center for this month's edition of 'Saturdays off the 405.' Iconic Chicago-based jazz-infused post-rockers Tortoise are poised to take on the Troubadour. And, lastly, local pop quintet Big Whup will be performing for free, in-store at Origami Vinyl. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Music Box to catch celebrated indie rock singer-songwriter David Bazan, who spent most of his formative years performing under the moniker Pedro the Lion. LAist favorites, Finnish indie rockers Rubik, who are touring in support of their second studio-album—2010's Dada Bandits—and Philadelphia-based experimental rock outfit mewithoutYou are slated to perform as well. more ›

Here at LAist, we love to shop local. This year in our "LAist Goes Shopping" series, from downtown to Abbot Kinney we found amazing things by talented independent designers, as well as vintage jewelry, Japanese housewares, and pop culture themed pop-up shops. House of Love & Luck On La Cienega next to The Roger Room and Largo at the Coronet, The House of Love & Luck is full of beautiful vintage costume jewelry. more ›

Tonight legendary Albany-based punk rock outfit Rancid will be co-headlining the Forum with Rise Against. Local actress/singer Mandy Moore is poised to grace Largo at the Coronet. And, lastly, Florida-based pop rockers Copeland will be performing at the Hotel Café with none other than Sherwood and the Union Line. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Troubadour to catch Chicago-based jazz-infused post-rockers Tortoise. more ›

Tortoise General Store on Abbot Kinney in Venice was opened by husband and wife Keiko and Taku Shinomoto at the end of October 2003, after they moved to Los Angeles from Tokyo. The Shinomoto's envisioned a general store full of beautiful and practical items. Recently they expanded their company to include a gallery space, also on Abbot Kinney. more ›

• One week after being subdued in his cell with a taser gun and lapsing into a coma, 35-year-old Orange County inmate Jason Jesus Gomez has died, officials announced today. Gomez, who was in jail for a probation violation, stopped breathing after officers used the taser on him during a scuffle.
• Say cheese: LA City Council voted today to approve a contract that will put cameras in 300 LAPD cars.
• Just like Britney Spears, blonde bombshell Farrah Fawcett had her alluring face and form plastered on posters in bedrooms all over the country. Now, also like Spears, Fawcett's medical records were subject to some prying eyes.
• The tragic details of a 911 call placed last fall by a 15-year-old girl whose family was murdered in the yard while gathered for a barbeque have been released by authorities. Danielle Blixt made the call before realizing the killer was her own brother, who also committed suicide during the bloody incident.
• You'rrrrrrreeeeee OUT! "Dodgers third-base coach Larry Bowa was suspended for three games and fined by the commissioner's office Wednesday following a wild argument." Bowa got the boot from last night's game versus the Giants.
• Shell game: A Diamond Bar man has been sentenced to spend 6 1/2 months in prison for participating in an international smuggling ring that brought rare Asian tortoises into the country.
• Pandora's Box? The Community Thrift Store in Covina found an unusual item nestled among the items in a box of donated goods: A grenade! The building was evacuated.
• Are you Hollywood or Westside? Do you know enough about local landmarks, newsmakers, history, and...cashmere sweaters? Have a high tolerance threshold for the misspelling of well-know spots in the city (i.e. Pizzeria Mozzo and Grumman's Chinese Theatre? Ahem.) and cross-promotion? Represent your 'hood over at the MetroChallenge, an online quiz tied to the crop of new Metro Collection condos in partnership with our friends over at CurbedLA.

Anavan, Teenage Talking Cars, The New Mother Fuckers @ The Echo more ›